Came home from the chiropractor, pulled into my driveway and as I got out of the truck I scanned the trees and woods at the rear of my yard like I always do. Sure enough there were 4 bushytails scampering around the trees, but what was really bothering me is that I saw a squirrel crawl out from under the roof soffit of my shed and climb up onto the shed roof. That's like the 3rd or 4th time I've seen squirrels on my shed roof, which is not near any trees, and I've beenn wondering what the heck they're doing there. Well, todays antics sealed the deal for me. The squirrel on my shed roof had to go !
Ran downstairs, grabbed the Winchester 1000, loaded a Crosman Premier Domed and headed out into the backyard. The little nutter was still on the roof but when he saw me he ran like a thief to the nearest tree, a very large maple, and scampered up into the top branches. I couldn't find him at first so I started scanning every branch very closely, starting at the top and intending to work my way down.
As I was scanning the length of one of the larger branches I suddenly saw the whisp of a tail sticking out from the opposite side of the branch. There he was. I tried waiting him out nice and quiet, but he wasn't going for it. I tried throwing large sticks to the opposite side of the tree, he wasn't going for that either. I started working my way very very slowly around the tree in the hope that I could get a good enough view of his noggin to take him out.
I finally got into a position where I could see part of his head, but really not enough cause he had it cocked to one side (away from me). What I did have a good view of was the white belly hair right underneath his left shoulder. I had a perfect quartering away shot right up into the vitals. I normally only take head shots with my .177's but this Winchester 1000 (as crude as it is) is without a doubt the hardest hitting .177 I have so a good body shot like that doesn't phase me one bit with this rifle.
I place the crosshairs just behind his left front leg right on the line where the white belly hair meets the grey body hair. The way the squirrels body was postioned this shot gave me a good angle up into the vital area. Held my breath, pulled the trigger, WHAP.... heard the pellet strike home, distance was about 20 yards. He let go with his front legs, clung on with his back legs for a second hanging head down, then dropped like a rock. Hit the ground as dead as a stone.
When I gutted and cleaned him I found that the pellet had indeed travelled straight up through the vitals and had destroyed quite a bit of organ tissue. The pellet was lodged just underneath the skin of the opposite front leg. I love that Winchester for popping squirrels :)
I took some pictures to post but it was a little shady so I don't how well they are going to post.
